Apparatus for sequentially dispensing objects



Nov. 5, 1963 E. A. SCIBELLI 3,109,556

APPARATUS FOR ssquzfi'nmv DISPENSING OBJECTS Filed May 1, 1961 United States Patent 3,109,556 APPARATUS FOR SEQUENTIALLY DESPENSYNG ()BJECTS Eugene A. Scihelli, Mansfield Place, Lynbrook, N.Y. Filed May 1, 1%1, Ser. No. 106,838 5 Claims. (Cl. 221-80) The present invention relates to dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to a device for containing a plurality of discrete objects from which these objects are automatically, individually dispensed.

The invention is especially suitable for use in dispensing clips, and more particularly spring hair clips of the type which are generally used in the art of hairdressing. The invention however is generally useful for the containment and sequential dispensing of many other small objects.

At the present time, it is the usual practice for the individual who is having her hair dressed to be given an open box containing a large number of hair clips. These clips are individually extracted from the box and handed to the hairdresser by the individual who is having her hair dressed. Many people object to the foregoing practice because of esthetic and sanitary reasons. Hair clipping and other foreign matter often fall into the box and become tangled with the clips. The clips may also damage finger-nails and cause finger pricks. It is therefore desirable to provide a clip container and dispenser which can eliminate direct personal contact with the clips and in which the clips can be kept in sanitary condition.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispenser, suitable for hair clips, which has few parts, is readily assembled and is suffi ciently low in cost to be commercially acceptable.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved device for holding and dispensing articles which has a capacity for a large number of articles and the capacity of which can readily be augmented.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an improved dispenser and container, suitable for a plurality of discrete objects, such as hair clips, which have the following attributes:

(1) Is easily loaded with the objects;

(2) Is hygienic in its use; and

(3) From which the objects are automatically individually and sequentially disposed in dispensing position.

Briefly described, dispensing apparatus in accordance with the invention may include a bi-part case in which rotatable feed means are journalled which holds a large number of the objects to be dispensed arranged serially around the axis of rotation thereof. The case may have an opening large enough to pass an individual one of the objects. A cam shaped stop is disposed in the case a'djacent the opening. The objects are individually cammed by the stop outwardly of the case as they are fed around the axis of rotation. When one object is removed from the opening, another advances into dispensing position in the opening. For loading, one part of the case may be removed and the objects inserted, under hygienic conditions in the case of hair clips, into appropriate positions in the rotatable feed means. Means may be provided for retaining several cases in stacked relationship. By stacking cases the capacity of the device can be readily augmented.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become more apparent from a reading of the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partially in section, of a hair clip dispenser in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 2. is a sectional view along the line 2-2 in FIG. I, viewed in the direction of the appended arrows.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the illustrated dispenser device includes a bi-part case 11). A receptacle base 12 forms the lower part of the case 10. This base 12 is a cup-shaped member which may be molded from plastic. A clear plastic of the styrene type may be suitable. The base 12 has a cylindrical outer wall and an axially apertured center post 13. The outer wall of the base 12 has an opening 14. The base also has a slot 16 therein contiguous with the wall opening 14. The base 12 is also formed with a stop 18 which extends radially from the outer wall of the base and is adjacent to one edge of the opening 14 and slot 16. This stop may suitably be molded integrally with the outer wall of the base as an extension of the outer wall thereof. The outer region of the stop contiguous with the outer wall of the base 12 has a cam surface 20. The lower Wall 22 of the base 12 has two cylindrical tabs 24 projecting therefrom. Two holes 26 are also formed in the base. The centers of the holes 26 and tabs 24- are along the periphery of a common circle and are equally spaced from each other. The holes 26 and tabs 24 match with corresponding holes and tabs of a base of another dispenser device and facilitate the alignment and assembly of a pair of such devices when it is desirable to have increased dispenser capacity.

The case 12 also has a top or cover 28. The cover 28 is a cup-shaped member similar to the base #12 and may be molded of the same plastic material as the base 12. The outer wall of the cover 28 is the same diameter and thickness as the outer wall of the base 12 but. is not as high as the latter outer wall. A pair of internal circular ridges 34 add rigidity to the cover 28 and aid in the guidance of a rotatable feed member 32. which is housed within the case 11). The cover 28 is axially apertured. A screw 34 extends through the axial apertures in the base 12 and cover 28 or" the case Ml. A knurled nut 36 and the screw 34 hold the base 12 and cover 28 parts of the case 19 detachably in assembled relationship.

The rotatable feed member 32 is a cup-shaped member having a radially outwardly extending arm or sweep 38. The outer wall of the feed member 32 is formed, except in the region of the sweep, with a plurality of spaced teeth 41). Compartments are formed between these teeth 40 for receiving the objects to be dispensed. The feed member 32 has an axial aperture slightly larger than the center post 13 of the base 12. The feed member 32 is journalled on the post 13. A speed nut 41 (a type of sheet metal nut) is used on the center post 13 to restrain the feed member 32 against excessive axial movement.

A convoluted type of tension spring 42 is wound around the center post 13. One end 42a of the spring 42 is disposed in a. slot in the sweep 38. The opposite end 4212 of the spring 42 is anchored on the base 12 by means of a plurality of tabs 44. The spring 42 biases the feed member for movement in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1.

The dispenser is shown as being loaded with spring hair clips 46 of a type which are well known in the hairdressing art and therefore are not described in detail herein. With the cover 213 removed, the clips are loaded separately in different ones of the compartments formed by the teeth 40. During loading the sweep may be held by hand in its maximum clockwise position against the bias of the spring 42. A member such as a spare clip may be inserted in the base 12 to hold the sweep and stop adjacent each other during loading. A large number of clips may be contained in the receptacle. For example, fifty clips may be inserted at one time. The compartments defined by the teeth 41 insure that each. clip will be in its proper place and that the clips will not .move out of place during dispensing operations. The possibility of is therefore reduced.

After loading the feed member 32 is released and the cover 28 replaced on the base 12. The feed member moves in the counter-clockwise direction under bias of the spring 42. The first clip will strike the stop 13. The round part 4 8 of the clip engages the cam surface it and is cammed radially outward of the dispenser through the opening 14. The clip 42 is then in dispensing position, and may readily be grasped by the person requiring same.

When the'first clip 46 is removed, the second clip is advanced to take its place. The second pin will also be camrned by interaction with the cam surface 20, out of the opening 14 into dispensing position. The slot 16 also facilitates grasping of the clips 46. The individual having her hair dressed need only hold the dispenser.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that new and improved apparatus for dispensing objects has been provided by this invention. While hair clips are described as being contained in a dispenser in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, other objects, such as clips of other types and the like, may be contained therein or in other dispensers in accordance with the invention. ponents, dimensions and parts of the illustrated dispenser, within the scope of the invention, will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the foregoing description should be taken as illustrative and not in any limitmg sense.

What is claimed is:

1. Dispensing apparatus for elongated objects which comprises a case member and feed means movably disposed in said case member, said feed means having a plurality of recesses, each of which for holding an end of a separate one of said objects and for locating said objects in stacked, juxtaposed relation in successive positions on said feed means, said, case having an opening therein for the passage of said objects sequentially into dispensing position as said feed means moves past said opening, and a stop member in the path of movement of said feed means and engageable with individual successive ones of said objects for partially and individually ejecting one of said objects and preventing movement of said feed means until the object engaged therewith is removed from said case.

2. A dispenser for containing and sequentially dispensing a plurality of elongated objects each of which has a round surface portion near one end, which dispenser comprises a hollow case member having a cylindrical outer wall, a rotatable feedmember journalled within said case member, said feed member having a plurality of teeth spaced from each other around the outer periphery thereof and defining a plurality of compartments for receiv- Variations in the com jamming the dispenser, should the clips shift out of place 7 ing the opposite ends of separate ones of said objects in succession and locating said objects radially with respect to the axis of said feed member in stacked relation, said outer wall having an opening therein, a stop member in said case adjacent said opening, said stop member having a cam surface engageable with said round surface portions of said objects radially for caming said objects through said opening into dispensing position when said objects are fed by 'said feed member into engagement with said stop member.

3. A dispenser according to claim 2 wherein said case member has two parts detachably secured to each other, one of which is removable for loading said objects into said compartments.

4. A dispenser according to claim 2 including spring means for biasing said member for movement toward said stop member.

5. A dispenser for containing and sequentially dispensing hair clips having an elongated portion terminating intoa rounded portion near one end thereof, said dispenser comprising a hollow cylindrical bi-part case, one part of which has center post disposed axially thereof, a rotatable feed member in said case journalled on said post, said feed member having a radially extending sweep portion and a plurality of teeth spaced from each other to define compartments for separately receiving an end of said hair clips opposite to said one end therein, said hair clips thereby extending radially of said case memher, said case member havingran opening in the outer wall thereof of size sufiicient to pass only one of said clips at one time, a stop member being disposed adjacent one side of said opening, and a torsion convoluted spring around said center parts, one end of said spring being secured to said case member and the other end of said spring being secured to said feed member for biasing said feed member in one direction to advance said clips sequentially into engagement with said stop member, said stop member having a cam surface engageable with therounded portions of said clips for urging said clip through said opening into dispensing position when said clips move into engagement with said stop member.

References (Jited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Aug. 24, 

1. DISPENSING APPARATUS FOR ELONGATED OBJECTS WHICH COMPRISES A CASE MEMBER AND FEED MEANS MOVABLY DISPOSED IN SAID CASE MEMBER, SAID FEED MEANS HAVING A PLURALITY OF RECESSES, EACH OF WHICH FOR HOLDING AN END OF A SEPARATE ONE OF SAID OBJECTS AND FOR LOCATING SAID OBJECTS IN STACKED, JUXTAPOSED RELATION IN SUCCESSIVE POSITIONS ON SAID FEED MEANS, SAID CASE HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN FOR THE PASSAGE OF SAID OBJECTS SEQUENTIALLY INTO DISPENSING POSITION AS SAID FEED MEANS MOVES PAST SAID OPENING, AND A STOP MEMBER IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF SAID FEED MEANS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH INDIVIDUAL SUCCESSIVE ONES OF SAID OBJECTS FOR PARTIALLY AND INDIVIDUALLY EJECTING ONE OF SAID OBJECTS AND PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF SAID FEED MEANS UNTIL THE OBJECT ENGAGED THEREWITH IS REMOVED FROM SAID CASE. 